The Rise of the Glock: America's Gun

In the early 1980s, a 50-year-old radiator manufacturer who'd never made a gun before was given the opportunity to make some for the Austrian army. His name was Gaston Glock, and the gun that bears his name has gained a ubiquitous presence both on-screen and in real-life crimes over the past 25 years. Made mostly of plastic and consisting fewer parts, the glock is lighter and easier to handle than other handguns — making it "amateur-friendly."

I've got two thoughts on this topic: first, Glock was the first handgun to use modern design research in its development. Gaston Glock brought together a research team and through intense work over a short term identified needs and solutions for each need. Second, Smith & Wesson used this process to better and more modern effect in developing its line of M&P pistols. These pistols are on the rise in adoption by law enforcement and civilian markets as well. They solved some of the ergonomic challenges of the Glock and added additional rigidity to the frame so the gun feels more solid and has less flex in the frame as the gun fires. You can read my article on the adoption process at http://alanmurdock.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/smith-vs-glock-who-will-win-the-modern-police-military-and-security-market/

This book on the Glock is nice, but it could have only been written after the height of this gun in America.